Two NMU alumni have been named the first head coaches Bay College history, as the institution establishes an athletics program. Rae Drake Jr. will lead the women’s basketball team and Jim Murtha will coach the cross-country team. Both attended Bay prior to graduating from Northern.

Drake most recently worked with the NMU women’s basketball program, including the past two seasons as an assistant coach. He previously served as an assistant coach at Michigan Tech and Iron Mountain High School and head coach at West Iron County. Drake graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1982 with a degree in special education. In addition to coaching, he was a special education teacher for 25 years.

Murtha spent 15 years as the head girls track coach at Gladstone High School. He previously served as an assistant with the school’s cross-country and track teams. In addition to coaching, Murtha served in the United States Air Force and has been a physical education teacher at Gladstone Area Schools for 18 years. Murtha graduated from NMU in 1995.